We Asked 11 Bartenders: What’s the Best New Bourbon That’s Earned a Spot On Your Bar? (2024)

There always seems to be something new going on in the bourbon world. Thanks to young distilleries making their debuts to fresh and innovative expressions from legendary brands, each trip to the neighborhood bottle shop carries the potential to deliver a new delight. The promise of discovery makes the bourbon category exciting, but it can also make things a bit overwhelming, even for the most seasoned tippler.

Bartenders can simplify this process, which makes perfect sense. After all, they tend to enjoy educating curious customers about the new labels hanging out on their back bars. With that in mind, we asked 11 bartenders what new bourbons have found a home at their watering holes. Some are new to market and some are new to the bartenders themselves, but either way, there’s plenty to love here.

The best new bourbons, according to bartenders: Widow Jane Brother’s Bond Cask Strength Leopold Brothers Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey Four Roses Small Batch Widow Jane Vault Edition Garrison Brothers Honeydew Bourbon Blue Run High Rye Bourbon Jack Daniels Bonded Milam & Greene’s Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey Left Bank Straight Bourbon Whiskey FEW Bottled in Bond

“From the moment I tasted Widow Jane, I knew it was something special and I had to spread the word. Being a bourbon from Brooklyn already makes it an interesting contender for attention and scrutiny, since mixologists can be notorious haters. But what makes Widow Jane unique to me comes from the limestone mines